Blossoming Highlights: A Whirlwind Year on Shropshire Petals Farm – A 2023 Roundup
2023 has proven to be a bustling and eventful year, to say
the least! Brimming with laughter and adventure, the farm has been a hub of
activity. While the weather hasn't always been on our side, the show must go on
– and indeed, it did! Thanks to the unwavering commitment and hard work of our
fantastic team, 2023 stands out as a record year for Shropshire Petals.
Now, let's delve into why this year has been nothing short
of blooming marvellous!
Shropshire Petals Team
Shropshire
Petal Fields
We couldn't skip talking about this first, especially after
the heart-wrenching decision to forgo the event last year. Opening our gates to
the public this year has been truly spectacular. Over the course of the 10 days
in August, we were thrilled to welcome more than 10,000 visitors to the farm.
Stepping back and watching everyone delight in the flowers, sharing the same
joy that we feel year after year, was absolutely wonderful!
Shropshire Petals Fields 2023
The success was so remarkable that we're already planning to
open again in 2024. The flower field near Newport, Shropshire, will be
accessible late July to early August 2024, with specific dates announced closer
to the time.
Want to be the first to know? Join our mailing list now and
receive exciting updates from the team.
Award
Winning Wedding Confetti
Award-winning, again! None of this would have been possible
without our incredible team. As you're well aware, we take our commitment to
customer service very seriously here at Shropshire Petals. So, when we found
out we were finalists for the Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards, we
were over the moon! The amazingly talented team at Guides for Brides organised
a fantastic event, and we were truly honoured to be a part of it. For a
detailed account, feel free to revisit our blog from earlier this year.
Guides for Brides Awards
For the third consecutive year, we've proudly received the
Platinum Trusted Service Award from Feefo – and it's all thanks to you, our
wonderful customers, for your votes!
And there's more good news! We're thrilled to share that
we've also secured a spot as a regional finalist in The Wedding Industry
Awards, where we received the Highly Commended award in the Special Touch
Category.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and
every one of you, our fantastic customers. Without your support, these
fantastic awards would not have been possible. A big thank you once again!
Television
Debut!
Excitingly, not just one, but TWO camera teams graced our farm this year!
Firstly, the team from Escape to the Country paid us a visit, and we're eagerly
awaiting the airing of their feature. Soon after, the crew from Garddio A Mwy,
also known as the Welsh Gardener's World, joined us. You can catch the episode
here, just be sure to enable subtitles if Welsh isn't your forte. Inviting both
teams to the farm was a true honour, allowing us to provide them and you, with
a glimpse into a day's work in the enchanting world of dried flowers and
confetti growing!
Florrie
and Friends!
As you may recall from last year, we proudly introduced
Florrie, our flower-planting and weeding robot, to the farm. However, we
couldn't bear to see her lonely, so we decided to invest in two new companions
for her! Meet Hector and Gigi – all three robots are already hard at work in
the fields.
Our Three Farm Droid Flower Planting Robots
These robots play a crucial role in our commitment to
reducing our carbon footprint and minimising CO2 emissions. Being much lighter
than a traditional tractor, they're gentler on our soil, lowering the risk of
compaction. What's more, they operate on solar energy, eliminating the need for
fuel! Curious to learn more? Check it out here.
Wedding
Shows & Interflora World Cup!
This year, it's heartening to observe that wedding shows are regaining the
bustling atmosphere they had before the pandemic, and we find that truly
amazing! There's nothing quite like meeting couples face-to-face, delving into
conversations about upcoming wedding trends, and being part of the vibrant
wedding industry.
Thank you to everyone that came to see us at the Spring and
Autumn National Wedding Shows at Birmingham's NEC. We're already planning 2024
shows! Come and see us on stand B29 between 1st and 3rd
March 2024 or stand C10 from 4th to the 6th October 2024.
Excitingly, we're contemplating a little revamp for our stand, so stay tuned –
we can't wait to unveil the magic Ashley has in store for our display!
Shropshire Petals at the NEC National Wedding Show 2023
Adding to the highlights of the year, we had the privilege
of attending the Interflora World Cup. It was an extraordinary experience
witnessing floristry at such a high level and connecting with numerous industry
professionals. We're always on the lookout for new and exciting events to
attend, so if you're organising something you think we'd love, don't hesitate
to get in touch!
Interflora World Cup Stand 2023
New (and
Familiar) Faces
In February, we had the pleasure of welcoming two fantastic additions to our
team – Hannah and Mollie. Hannah stepped into the crucial role of Sales Account
Manager for LSF Wholesale (our B2B side of the business), and she's already
achieved remarkable results. Her infectious and inspiring joyful energy is
truly a gift that keeps on giving!
Mollie, on the other hand, joined our marketing team as our
Marketplace Executive, bringing with her a wealth of expertise and a true knack
for her trade.
Sales and Marketing Team 2023 - Hannah far right, Mollie second in from the right.
Later in the year, we expanded our team further by welcoming
Lewis, who joined our accounts team, ensuring that everything stays in perfect
order! We're thrilled to have such talented individuals on board.
Both Mishel
and Catalin have
joined us on the farm on a full-time basis. Both have been working for us
during the summer months for many years now, and we are beyond excited to be
keeping them this winter!
This year
we welcomed, not one, not two, but three beautiful baby girls into the
Shropshire Petals family! Alannah, Tina and Alex, and Emma are doing
exceptionally well and we can report that all three babies are incredibly cute!
Harvest
Time
Last year, we tackled the heat, and this year, we faced the wet! But, true to
form, it didn't phase us one bit!
Under the leadership of Laura and her incredible team, we
successfully harvested a whopping 1 million handfuls of biodegradable wedding
confetti, alongside 35,000 bunches of dried flowers. This accomplishment stands
as a remarkable testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.
Harvest on the Shropshire Petals Farm 2023
Always striving for improvement, our research and
development team is diligently working behind the scenes to pave the way for an
even more substantial harvest in 2024. We're excited about the possibilities
ahead!
Collaborations
This year has been filled with incredible collaborations
with some truly wonderful businesses. The Colourful Garden Company joined
forces with us for our big confetti moment competition, and it was a resounding
success. We have loved seeing your confetti moments, and cannot wait to share
them across our social network in 2024.
We've had the pleasure of working with inspiring smaller
businesses, including Studio Wald, Bloom Boutique, The Country Rose, Shell on
Earth, Hare and Heather, and Paperlore Recycling, to name just a few. Bringing
you some fantastic giveaways on Instagram.
We have also participated in some fantastic styled shoots
with talented suppliers in the wedding industry which has been a highlight for
us building some strong professional relationships. We eagerly anticipate many
more creative ventures in the coming year, which we will endeavour to share
with you.
Additionally, we've had the privilege of partnering with
inspiring influencers as they prepare for their weddings. If you're tying the
knot next year and happen to be a micro influencer, don't hesitate to get in
touch – we would love to hear from you!
Here's to another successful year!
We are beyond excited to see what 2024 holds for us at SP! Our team is bursting
with excitement at the prospect of another fulfilling year on the farm, eagerly
looking forward to witnessing the fields in full bloom once again.
We extend heartfelt thanks to everyone for their love and
support throughout the past year. Witnessing your confetti moments truly makes
all the hard work worthwhile. Don't forget to share your snaps with us for a
chance to be featured on our social media – because your joy is the best reward
for our efforts! Here's to a blooming wonderful 2024!
Flower Field 2023
For more
information, tips and advice on the perfect confetti moment follow us on
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Pinterest!
We wish you
a happy New Year!
With Love
SP xx
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